at some point journalism becomes as important as life itself. in my case i see journalism as a path, as a way of changing things to really make a difference. >> during her political exile in germany pÉrez has been preparing lectures and working on her latest book. in an earlier one, "el cartel negro" -- or the black cartel -- she described the connections between the drug mafia and the state-owned oil company. >> suddenly i discovered that high-ranking government officials and respected politicians and their families were involved in serious corruption cases. they were involved in money laundering, fraud, embezzlement of public funds. i think this is a core theme for journalists because most of the major problems we have in mexico are associated in one way or another with corruption. >> in germany pÉrez has given many lectures about freedom of the press in mexico. she does not expect the threats to journalists to stop anytime soon. >> i think about the things i've experienced and it's hard. i had to learn to live with the fear and work with fe